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What do Pan Am, E.F. Hutton, Oldsmobile, Banker’s Trust, and Amoco have in common? They are all major companies that have come and gone; the once familiar icons now relegated to museums.

If you had your retirement nest egg resting in the branches of these companies, “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men” cannot put it back together again!

What we are trusting in matters – it matters a great deal.

“The hope of the godless comes to nothing. Everything they count on will collapse. They are leaning on a spider’s web.” ~ Job 8:13b-14 NLT

Spider’s webs. I love to look at them shimmering in the early light of a morning sun; the dew drops revealing the intricate design of the tiny artist. Nevertheless as lovely as that creation may be, I know better than to lean on it and expect any kind of support. (Sorry, Spiderman, it is just not possible!)

In the same manner, we must be careful what we are “leaning on.” The companies we work for today may go overseas tomorrow… The hot stock we are counting on to see us through in our golden years may become ice cold… The politician who promises gold may turn out to be Rumpelstiltskin… The spouse who vowed eternal love may decide to rewrite the definition of eternity…

The only One we can lean on is the eternal God who holds us up with “everlasting arms.” (Deut. 33:27) He is faithful and true; an intensively present helper in times of trouble and the only Rock worth building our lives upon. His icon – an old rugged cross and an empty tomb – is not gathering dust in a man-made museum, but is forever enshrined as the hope of mankind.